Cargo Charter Rates 2026: India to Middle East, Europe & Africa | Safe Fly Aviation
Cargo Charter Rates 2026: India → Middle East, Europe & Africa Real Pricing (Updated Dec 2025)
Searching for cargo charter rates India 2026, Mumbai to Dubai freight charter cost, Delhi to London cargo jet price, India to Nairobi urgent air cargo rates, or on-board courier India–Europe 2026? You are in the right place.
Safe Fly Aviation (safefly.aero) supports 24/7 dedicated cargo charter solutions from every major Indian gateway: Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), Hyderabad (HYD), Chennai (MAA), Bangalore (BLR), Kolkata (CCU), Ahmedabad (AMD) and Kochi (COK). We move everything from perishables and pharmaceuticals to dangerous goods (DGR), automotive parts, oil & gas equipment, humanitarian aid and oversized cargo, with full DGCA, IATA and customs coordination support.
All prices below are 2026 projected estimates in INR for the aircraft charter (including fuel, crew, standard handling and basic security at major airports). They exclude first/last-mile trucking, storage and complex cold-chain arrangements. GST (up to 18%, depending on service structure and tax treatment) and destination customs/duties are additional.
2026 Cargo Aircraft Hourly & Block Rates (India-Focused Charters)
These wet charter / block-hour ranges reflect typical rates used on India–Middle East, India–Africa and India–Europe missions. Actual quotes depend on routing, utilisation and market conditions.
| Aircraft Type | Payload (Tons) | Volume (m³) | Hourly Rate (INR, 2026 proj.) | Typical Use from India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonov An-26 | 5–6 | 40 | ₹4.8–6.5 lakh | Short-haul regional work, feeder to Middle East / Africa |
| Saab 340F | 4–5 | 45 | ₹4.0–5.3 lakh | Domestic sectors and nearby GCC movements |
| ATR 72F | 8–9 | 73 | ₹5.8–7.8 lakh | India → Colombo, Dhaka, Muscat, short GCC lanes |
| Boeing 737-300/400F | 18–20 | 150 | ₹10–14 lakh | India → Middle East, East Africa |
| Boeing 757-200F | 28–32 | 240 | ₹14–19 lakh | India → Europe, Central Asia, long Middle East |
| Boeing 767-300F | 45–52 | 450 | ₹20–26 lakh | India → Europe, West/East Africa |
| Ilyushin Il-76TD | 40–48 | 350 | ₹24–32 lakh | Oversized / humanitarian / remote airfields in Africa |
| Antonov An-124 | 120–150 | 1,050 | On request | Project cargo (wind blades, locomotives, heavy O&G) |
The Antonov An-124 usually carries up to roughly 120–150 tonnes and is quoted strictly on a mission-specific basis due to limited global availability and highly specialised planning.
Route-Wise Cargo Charter Rates 2026 (Most requested India corridors)
1. Mumbai / Delhi → Dubai / Sharjah (DXB, SHJ, DWC) — ~3.5 hours
One of India's busiest lanes for electronics, garments, pharma, express and e-commerce.
| Aircraft | Payload | One-Way Price (INR, 2026 proj.) | Approx. Rate per kg (20T load) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B737-400F | 18–20T | ₹30–36 lakh | ~₹150–180/kg |
| B757-200F | 28–30T | ₹44–52 lakh | ~₹150–185/kg |
| Empty-leg / Backhaul | 15–20T | ₹20–26 lakh | ~₹100–140/kg |
Expect up to +20% peak surcharge around Ramadan, Eid and major sales seasons in the UAE. Backhaul or part-charter arrangements can significantly improve cost-efficiency.
2. Mumbai / Delhi → Riyadh / Jeddah / Dammam (Saudi Arabia) — ~4.5–5 hours
A fast-growing corridor for foodstuffs, construction materials, industrial supplies and e-commerce.
| Aircraft | Payload | One-Way Price (INR, 2026 proj.) |
|---|---|---|
| B737F | 18T | ₹40–48 lakh |
| B767F | 48–50T | ₹72–82 lakh |
3. Delhi / Mumbai → London / Frankfurt / Amsterdam (LHR, FRA, AMS) — ~9–10 hours
Premium trade lanes for pharmaceuticals, automotive components, perishables (mangoes, grapes), textiles and other high-value cargo.
| Aircraft | Payload | One-Way Price (INR, 2026 proj.) | Round-Trip (7-day layover, 2026 proj.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B757-200F | 28–30T | ₹1.45–1.85 crore | ₹2.7–3.3 crore |
| B767-300F | 48–50T | ₹2.0–2.7 crore | ₹3.7–4.5 crore |
Routings with a technical or cargo hub stop (for example Doha, Dubai or Istanbul) can sometimes be 25–35% cheaper if you are flexible on transit times and routings.
4. Mumbai / Chennai → Nairobi / Addis Ababa / Johannesburg — ~5.5–9 hours
Critical lanes for flowers, fresh produce, machinery, mining, oil & gas and relief cargo.
| Route | Aircraft | Payload | One-Way Price (INR, 2026 proj.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai → Nairobi (NBO) | B737F | 18T | ₹44–54 lakh |
| Delhi → Addis Ababa (ADD) | Il-76 | 40–45T | ₹1.1–1.4 crore |
| Hyderabad → Johannesburg (JNB) | B767F | 45–48T | ₹1.8–2.3 crore |
UN/NGO and government programmes may qualify for humanitarian or multi-sector pricing, depending on volume commitments and contract duration.
5. Ahmedabad / Surat → Doha / Kuwait / Muscat (Textiles & Diamonds)
A dense, short-haul region for textiles, diamonds and fashion cargo, with frequent uplift driven by export cycles.
| Aircraft | Payload | One-Way Price (INR, 2026 proj.) |
|---|---|---|
| ATR 72F | 7–8T | ₹15–20 lakh |
| B737F | 18T | ₹28–34 lakh |
Rates can spike around key festival seasons and fashion calendar events. Turboprops allow flexible frequencies for time-sensitive textile and fashion shipments.
Top Cargo Types & 2026 Rate Adjustments
| Cargo Type | Typical Best Aircraft | Indicative Rate Premium vs General Cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals | B737F / B767F / widebody freighters | +15–25% (cold-chain, SOPs, packaging and monitoring) |
| Dangerous Goods (DGR) | Il-76 / B757F / B737F (DGR-approved) | +20–40% (documentation, segregation, regulatory oversight) |
| Live animals (e.g. horses) | B737F combi / B767F | ~+30% (grooms, stabling, ventilation and welfare checks) |
| Oversized / out-of-gauge project cargo | An-124 / Il-76 | On request only, mission-specific |
| On-board courier (OBC) | Scheduled commercial flights + dedicated courier | Typically ₹3–6 lakh per hand-carry, route and urgency dependent |
On-board courier (OBC) is ideal for extremely time-critical, high-value shipments such as prototypes, critical aircraft or plant spares, legal documents and small batches of luxury goods.
How to Achieve the Most Competitive Cargo Charter Price in 2026
- Plan 7–21 days ahead: This allows operators to optimise rotations and can save roughly 15–30% compared with last-minute uplift.
- Use empty legs and backhauls: Backhaul or repositioning sectors can dramatically reduce cost, especially on India–GCC and India–Europe lanes.
- Be flexible on airports: Using secondary airports (for example SHJ or DWC instead of DXB, or OST instead of LHR) can trim handling and slot-related costs by ₹4–10 lakh per movement.
- Consolidate and standardise: Well-built ULDs or pallets, standardised packaging and complete documentation reduce ground time and incidental charges.
- Align export and import flows: If you control flows in both directions, round-trip or multi-sector rotations allow better aircraft utilisation and more attractive pricing.
Ready for Your 2026 Air Cargo Charter?
Safe Fly Aviation operates a dedicated 24/7 cargo charter desk with access to B737F, B757F, B767F, Il-76, An-124 and other specialist capacity through our global network of partners and operators.
Whether you need a one-off urgent uplift, a seasonal export programme, humanitarian flights or complex project cargo solutions, our team will build the right aircraft, route and schedule around your cargo.
Frequently Asked Questions – Cargo Charter India 2026
Are these 2026 cargo charter rates from India final prices?
No. All rates shown are indicative planning ranges based on current market conditions and typical operating patterns. Your final price will depend on the exact route, dates, aircraft availability, payload, handling requirements and any special services such as cold-chain, DGR or live animals. Safe Fly Aviation will provide a route-specific written quotation for each enquiry.
Is GST included in cargo charter quotations from India?
Unless specifically stated, GST is not included in headline rates. Under Indian tax law, air charter services can attract GST of up to 18%, although certain export-related services may be zero-rated or eligible for input tax credits. The exact GST treatment depends on the service structure and will be detailed in your final quotation and invoice.
How quickly can Safe Fly Aviation launch a cargo charter?
In many cases we can arrange aircraft, crew and permissions for urgent movements within 24–48 hours, subject to payload details, routing and regulatory approvals. For complex missions, DGR cargo or challenging airports, more lead time is advisable. Our cargo desk operates 24/7 to support short-notice requirements.
Can you support dangerous goods and pharma cargo from India?
Yes. We work with operators that are approved for various classes of dangerous goods and with freighters equipped for temperature-controlled pharma movements. Proper packaging, labelling, MSDS documentation and advance disclosure are essential. Our team can liaise with your logistics and compliance teams to ensure all formalities are in order before uplift.
Do you handle first/last-mile trucking and customs as well?
Safe Fly Aviation primarily specialises in the air charter component, but we regularly coordinate with your existing freight forwarders and can introduce trusted partners for trucking, warehousing and customs brokerage where required. For larger programmes, we can help design an integrated solution with clear division of responsibilities.
